iPhone XS eSIM

Obviously it does with the Apple watch, through OneNumber" which i have in my Series 3, but the XS arrives tomorrow and I'll like to know more about the eSIM.

I was told (and experienced) that the Watch eSIM doesn't work Overseas. If this is true for the iPhone too it will be pretty problematic. Of course, better enabled with the SIM slot for a local country data SIM.

Re: iPhone XS eSIM

Apple don't currently support the eSIM, they need to roll out a software update. It wouldn't surprise me if it doesn't work overseas due to the way that they operate. The eSIM could only work if you were connected to a carrier that also supports eSIMs (which rules out China as a whole).

Never be afraid to back yourself when trying new things, just always make sure you have 3 escape routes if things go wrong.

Re: iPhone XS eSIM

Thanks for coming through, AP1981. Last year we were one of the first Australian telcos to introduce eSIM technology for connected smart watches and we will introduce eSIM support for smartphones in the future as customer demand builds. - Matthew.

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So, the way I see it there is huge demand out there. Everyone at my work wants it. We all have work SIMs and can’t be bothered with two phones. Just make this bloody work. Telstra already stuffed up so bad in many ways, this is a good opportunity to come good and be the first one to offer something great! I’m sick and tired being dictated by our Telcos what I can do and can’t do. Just make it work!

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Regina Mary:Yes, the new iPhone XS & XS MAX has the built in feature of e-SIM. The only catch is,it's not yet activated to those devices in AUS. Right now there's only selected counties that has teh e-SIM

Telstra and Apple is still working on the arrangement about it.

To MattyC:Please advise an eta on eSIM capability now 12.1 has been released and consider me as an early adopter.

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Yes another opportunity lost by Telstra. All the big telcos worldwide are making this technology hard to obtain because they are worried about a big churn rate from non contracted customers. It will come because half the world wants it and have been patiently waiting on Apple for 5 years. Only now to have resistance from the prividers. Shamedul corporate greed. Unfortunately I’m a Telstra shareholder.

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Totally agree. The technology is there now, I have an iPhone XR which has the dual sim (eSim) capability and yet still have to carry two phones for personal and work because eSim isn’t yet supported in Australia. Please make this a priority Telstra!

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If Telstra dont activate eSIM technology by the end of 2018 l will port my number to another carrier that already supports eSIMThe way l see it, l will have a dual sim iphone one way or another by January 2019

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I want to convert my SIM to an eSIM as well, so consider this another vote from a customer for this feature.

The idea of introducing features "as customer demand builds" seems kind of insulting... do we have to beg for new features that other providers are offering or are about to start offering (in the case of Vodafone)? Come on...

Re: iPhone XS eSIM

Chancho, no Australian carrier has announced support. So you'll be waiting if you want to change carriers still... Last I saw from Vodafone was that they weren't planning on doing it any time in the foreseeable future... Optus has said on their social media that they are not going to implement it at all. So far Telstra is the only one who has said more of a maybe...

Very few traditional carriers anywhere in the world have taken up the support of it so far.

Re: iPhone XS eSIM

I spoke to a Telstra customer service and they said that e-sim is available, but after reading online it appears it is not?

I travel for work frequently, and carrying 2 mobile phones is a major annoyance. I understand Vodafone is offering e-sim now, is Telstra planning on brining this in shortly? Just trying to get an idea of if I should move to Vodafone now, or wait a little longer.

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Vodafone has added it for customers in some European countries (Germany and Spain) but not for customers of Vodafone Australia (VHA).

From all public details I have seen from Vodafone staff on their forums and their social media they are not expecting it in the foreseeable future for VHA customers... Currently, none of the three Australian network owners has announced support, and Optus have straight out said they will not be supporting it. https://twitter.com/Optus/status/1040735107017924608

Currently, you can indeed use it, but only with one of the 15 supported international providers (from what is set shortly to be a total of 10 countries) and or with one of the two global providers. https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT209096

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Why on earth not just release the dual sim slot version in all countries?? Problem solved instantly. I don't give one damn about an esim. Its infinitely easier to pop a nano sim or two of my choosing into my phone and everything works. Its seems apple is just as complicit in this as the telcos.

Why are more people not realizing this? There is no reason for an esim. Just give us a phone with 2 sim slots like in China.

Does anyone know where I can but the dual slot iphone from in Australia and will it work in Australia?

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You can buy it in Hong Kong (can't get it in Australia). It doesn't support LTE Band 28 (700MHz), so it won't have the best reception or speed. LTE Band 28 is probably the most important Band to have here.

As far as Apple goes, it is a case of "You will enjoy our innovations whether you can actually make use of them or not."

Never be afraid to back yourself when trying new things, just always make sure you have 3 escape routes if things go wrong.

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It should work. It is just that you can't get a Telstra (or any other Australian carrier) service with an eSIM.You need a physical SIM for your Telstra service, but if a carrier offers eSIM, you can load it onto your device and use that service (at least that is what they claim, I can't see why it wouldn't work - except in China which has banned eSIM services).

Never be afraid to back yourself when trying new things, just always make sure you have 3 escape routes if things go wrong.

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What I find weird is that GigSky and Truphone, global eSim providers, must be using Australian networks. So at least one of our networks can route data to an eSim. And because of Apple Watch we know they can route calls to an eSim. I presume they are holding out because they feel they will sell less phones.

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FYI all. Just came back from Singapore and used an 3HK esim for data with my Telstra service for text and calls.... cost me $28 for the esim which is 10 days of unlimited data available on 20 countries and is non-consecutive over 180 days so I can use it for future trips until used up. And only for a few texts and calls while I was away costing less than $5....esim is amazing and thanks Telstra because you’ve held out on it I found a better option for my esim slot and have kept your sim in the physical slot...

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When many developing counties does activated the feature of eSIM in iPhone XS or XS Max, why we should lag behind in the technology. Since the hardware (iPhone) support this, please expedite enabling the feature so that we can use the feature completely. (1 sim for work and 1 sim for personal)

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Hey Telstra,we are still waiting for our eSIMs!What is happening? Where are we at?Give us something! It is super annoying and there is tons of demand in case you have not noticed. Let’s face it, it is just an excuse because you telcos don’t like the whole eSIM concept as it gives us consumers too many options to switch our providers easily. That is the reason you block it correct?! Just find a bloody way to lock us in somehow, I don’t care I just want to have that damn eSIM. Sick of swapping work and private SIMs and don’t want to carry two phones around.

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There is absolutely no technical reason why Telstra, Optus & Vodafone do not support esim's. Proof is the fact the esim cellular capable Apple watches, work brilliantly on the network.

The reason they WONT allow esim phones access, is because they dont want their customers roaming between competing telcos, just because a service they provide isnt up to scratch, too expensive or not suitable for their needs. esims are very easy to program and churning to another telco can be done literally by anyone with the knowledge.

Telcos will try anything to keep their customers. In Telstra's case, they do it by not allowing esims, eliminating altogether the ability to software churn away from them.

There is even an active court case in the USA, where AT&T and Verizon attempted to reprogram the esims, so they can be LOCKED to them permanently..

In summary, its all about keeping customers, making as much money out of them as possible and preventing them from going to another telco. Providing a decent service, including support for esims is a very distant second in their priority lists...

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@Ozmoz Sarcasm will get you everywhere. Don’t hang that claim to fame on me. I’m not even a Telstra customer, wouldn’t touch them with a 10 foot pole..I just happen to work with people who do indeed know the inner workings of the company..,If you knew half of what they have told me, you wouldn’t go near them either....Each to their own

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Yes I agree, current authentication methods don’t work and aren’t secure. If porting they should call your phone and ask for a verbal confirmation that you are wanting to leave your current provider before any number is released.

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So even if you could reprogram your esim to churn from your current provider, ultimately if you’re contracted in you’ll be penalised the same way you are now if you port your number the traditional way.

So in no way will esim make churning easier, if you’re in contract you will pay the fee to leave early.

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@Pingpong69 wrote:Yes I agree, current authentication methods don’t work and aren’t secure. If porting they should call your phone and ask for a verbal confirmation that you are wanting to leave your current provider before any number is released.

@Pingpong69 When I went from Telstra to their little brother Belong, Belong sent me an SMS code to my Telstra phone so that I had to input that code in the sign-up procedures otherwise the porting wouldn't happen.

They all should do that as a minimum.

Then there is the issue of what to do if you loose your mobile and want to port over to someone else.

I would like to be able to log into my account online, regardless of carrier, and activate a 'lock function' so no porting can ever happen unless I unlock it manually.

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So in no way will esim make churning easier, if you’re in contract you will pay the fee to leave early.

@Pingpong69 Well it would in the respect that you wouldn't have to chase down a SIM before you can churn. Which then opens up the other questions, as in, will they also offer churns bonuses. Like how you can often get SIMs for half price etc for the first month.

Main thing I like about eSIM is if you loose your phone now they can pop it out and put it in another phone and use up all the credits etc. With eSIM they won't be able to do that If the phone is locked.